Wichita_Postal_Service_History
HISTORY OF THE POSTAL SERVICE OF WICHITA COUNTY,
TEXAS
Not sure of the source of this material -
was in a collection of typed histories
It appears to have been written about 1934
The postal history of Wichita county
properly commences with a picture of Stephen D. Reynolds cutting
across country in 1801 and before, bringing mail from Henrietta,
The records do not show when this service was begun or ended,
but it is recalled by Mrs. Carrigan that Reynolds later on moved
to Wichita Falls and published the first newspaper, the Wichita
Mirror, on a hand press.
The first post office was established at the home of M. W. Sealy
at 600 Ohio street, and Miss Hariett Sealy was the official in
charge at that time. It was later moved to the middle of the 700
block on Ohio, but the records do not show when this move was
made.
In 1882 a Post Office was established at Gilbert, sometimes
known as Nestorville, in Wichita County. George W. Darby being
appointed Postmaster, Mr. Darby had a small store supplying the
needs of cowboys on the nearby ranches and Indians from the
Territory and in 1883 sold the store to J. G. Hardin, Mr. Hardin
also taking over position of Postmaster. Mr. Hardin retained
this post until Dec.6th 1889 when F. W. Longbine assumed the
post and was in charge until Gilbert was discontinued as a post
office and its stock and records were sent to Wichita Falls May
30th 1891. As an indication of the volume of business transacted
by this office, the records show that when discontinued, the
Gilbert stock of stamps invoiced $4.00. It is shown that Mr.
Hardin's earning as Post master the last month he served was 88
cents and that he allowed his fees to accumulate to such an
extent that there was due him for the last six months serviced
the total sum of $4.34.
Under executive order dated June 20th 1883 the Money order
system was established and put into operation July 2nd. It was
not until July 7th the local office made the first sale of a
money order. The record shows that on the date July 7th order
number one was sold to J. W. Field, a surveyor, in the amount of
$7.85. Two days later Huff and Boyd bought an order, for $13.25
and to show the increasing popularity of the system order 20 was
sold July 13th 1883 to R. E. Huff for $1.90.
The records on file in the office begin with the term of John A.
Williams who served until February 24, 1885, when he took office
it is not shown. He was succeeded by A. D. Acers who served
until Jan. 12th 1886. George A. Giddings was postmaster from
Jan. 13, 1886 until July 31, 1889. E. F. Hickey died during his
term of office and the record shows that Chas. O. Joline acted
as postmaster from Feb. 12 to March 3rd, 1894, when on March 4,
1894, W. E. Frieze took the office and held it until May 9,
1898. J. P. Jones now living at 1803 Collins served as assistant
under Mr. Frieze from March 1894 until Jan. 1897.
H. T. Canfield served from May 10, 1898 until December 17, 1906,
when P. C. Maricle took over the office as acting Postmaster,
serving until March 21, 1907. Ralph Darnell followed, likewise
with the rank of acting Postmaster and served until October
31st, 1907 when Otis T. Bacon assumed the duties of the office
and remained in charge until February 15, 1916.
It was during Mr. Bacon's tenure that City carrier service was
established in Wichita Falls on Jan. 15th, 1908. Four carriers
were employed; O.H.K. Ross, T. P. Norwood, Wh. H. Bachman, and
Henry Campbell. It is recalled that these men were paid $50.00
per month, out of which they supplied their uniforms. However,
their loads were light and routes short at first. The town at
that time hardly extending farther west than Burnett street and
to Lee in the other direction. Mr. and Mr. Norwood are still
employed at the local office. Mr. Bachman retired in 1932, and
Mr. Campbell is a Railway Clerk.
It was also during Mr. Bacon's term of office that the Post
Office was moved from the middle of the 700 block on Ohio to its
third location at 801 Ohio, August 1st, 1908 where it remained
until the Government constructed the building at 9th and Ohio
into which the service moved on Jan. 1st, 1913.
Two new employees commenced work under. Mr. Bacon; Lon. H.
Howard at present Assistant Postmaster began work Dec. 1, 1909
and C. K. Johnson, now Superintendent of Mails joined the force
in 1913. The oldest employee however in this point of service,
still on active duty, is Fort McHam, who went to work in the
office December l, 1907. Ed. Howard, publisher followed Mr.
Bacon and served as Postmaster from Feb. 16th, 1916 to June
10th, 1924, being followed by the present incumbent, O. P.
Maricle, whose term of office is at present fixed at four years
from April 1932.
The office at 9th and Ohio took are of service for twenty years
and three months, the new building on Lamar Ave. between 10th
and 11th being occupied April 1, 1933. It houses in addition to
the post office a Federal Court, the offices of numerous
governmental bureaus and in comparison with the buck board that
Stephen B. Reynolds piloted across country to deliver the main
sack to the Sealy home epitomizes the wonder progress of this
area in a period covering, in time, less than 3 score years.
IOWA PARK
The Fort Worth and Denver City Railway was extended from
Wichita Falls in 1885 and from 1885 to 1889 mail was handled
through the depot known as Daggett. In 1889 the town of Iowa
Park was founded by. D.C. Kolp and J. A. Kennedy, post office
under the name of Iowa Park being established in 1889 with
George Ashton as the first Postmaster.
(Checking with USPS.GOV says 1st Postmaster was Andrew J. Kolp,
appointed 11/12/1888, 2nd was Susan M. Ford, appointed
09/04/1889, and the 3rd was George W. Ashton, appointed,
08/27/1891)